Creative Journeys - the first day

My first stab at a diary entry.... 'Creative Journeys' - why the title?

Well, my life has been one very exciting creative journey. Originally a graphic designer and artist from Ontario, Canada, I found myself living in the UK - lets say, quite a few years ago. I discovered patchwork and quilting through City & Guilds courses in Windsor, Berkshire, near my home. I then went on to the Diploma in Stitched textiles with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn and this more mixed media approach to fibre art and stitch was what I found the most enjoyable.

Researching caribou skin clothing and the stitched textile wallhangings of Baker Lake in Arctic Canada for the Diploma, inspired many art quilts and textiles for about 5 years. Different themes have developed since then, each being a creative journey on its own, but I come back to art, design and photography as the essential tool in my textiles today. Have a look on www.sandrameech.com and see the gallery of art quilts done over the last 10 years.

Journeys come in many forms, - physical places we visit, or an experience we need to 'work through'. In all cases our love of fabric and stitch can pull it all together. For me it is a return to the world of art that influences me the most, and of course getting two recent books on Contemporary and Creative Quilts published has truly helped to consolidate ideas and share them with others. The teaching of mixed media, design and colour confidence to quilters and embroiderers as well as making and exhibiting my own work, gives me constant pleasure and keeps me very busy travelling internationally.

I hope with this site, I can explore some creative ideas and share them with you regularly. Perhaps some tips and suggestions for ways to find and harness inspiration, or daily ways to document thoughts in a sketchbook journal, - who knows?

With a busy teaching schedule, I may, at times not always be able to add to it, but I will do my best. I'll be back soon.